Parkwood Presbyterian Church: From the Pastor, September, 2000

From the Pastor...
September, 2000

THE OUTREACH AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

Acts 3: 1 - 11

If at the end of Acts 2 we have a description of the inner life of the church, here, in Acts 3: 1 - 11, we have a picture of the outer activity of the church. In these verses we see what is to be the MISSION, the MIGHT and the METHOD of the church; or, what is the job of the church, what is the power available to do the job, and what is the way to do it.

1. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

What is it? From a study of Acts 2: 41 - 47 we might get the impression the church is to be a kind of mutual aid society! But the record does not end with chapter 2; it goes on into chapter 3, where we learn that in terms of service, believers are saved to serve, and their service consists of ministering to others, especially the poor and needy of society. Take a look at the man described in these verses. In him we see a picture of humanity without God; for he is lame, he has been like it from birth; he is helpless, destitute and more concerned about material needs than about spiritual needs, and he is near the temple but outside it. Peter and John not only offered him physical help, but they shared the gospel with him. For we read in verse 8, Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God" and this is the job, the mission of the church in the world. This was Jesus' program, and it is to be ours as well. The mission of the church is to:

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave:
Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the Mighty to save.

2. THE MIGHT OF THE CHURCH

What is the church's power to deal with a humanity desperate for wholeness. It is certainly not material power, not the power of money, not the power of personality, nor of human eloquence. The church's real power is divine, spiritual power. It is the power of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. His Name signifies His Person, all that He, our risen, ascended and exalted Lord is. The church of God is only powerful as she lifts up, exalts and preaches the Lord Jesus. Our one great concern must be to make much of Christ, to exalt and honour and offer Him, and to strip away from our service and activity everything that is inconsistent with His mighty Name. A church is never great because of numbers, or finance or good preaching or worldly reputation. The only true might any church has is in the might of the Name, the might of the Lord Himself. If the Mission of the church is to go out and reach men and women for Christ, and the Might of the church is that power of the Lord Himself, what is the Method of the church?

3. THE METHOD OF THE CHURCH

What was the method used by Peter and John?

a. Their method was one of Divine co-operation. That is, it was the Lord on the Throne working with and through Peter and John,. The exalted Lord was doing His work through human channels, in this case Peter and John.

b. Their method was one of human co-operation. It was not only a case of the Lord working with and through Peter and John, but of Peter and John working together. Here were the Doer and the Dreamer in harness! What a great partnership this was! There is variety in the church, and there is great need for the Lord's workers to respect one another's God-given ministry.

c. Their method consisted of going out to and making contact with the world. This is what Peter and John did. We are to take the gospel, the message of the love and grace of God, to people where they are. Then, we are to have contact with them.

d. Their method was primarily spiritual in its activity. It was not only Christ- centered, it was evangelistic. The man "crippled from birth" was healed physically, but more important than this, he was saved spiritually. The gospel is a social matter, but primarily it is a spiritual matter. Our souls need healing before our bodies. Thank God for every bit of social activity that is carried on by the church today! The gospel has a social application. Of course it does! But social activity, ministering to the physical and material and temporal needs of men and women, must always be undertaken as an extension and expression of evangelistic concern.

e. Their method was empowered and made effective by prayer. In verse one of chapter three, we read that "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer". Here we see the secret of their power, individual prayer. Martin Luther wrote: "The prayers of the saints are the decrees of God beginning to operate."

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labour the Lord will provide:
Back to the narrow way patiently win them:
Tell the poor wanderer a Saviour has died.